Dolphin Encounter

Georgia Aquarium has several sanitization and cleanliness procedures, many of which have been enhanced given the awareness of COVID-19. Our Environmental Operations team continually cleans and disinfects frequently touched places like handles, elevators, faucets, counters, and more. We have placed additional hand sanitizer units in gallery entrances and exits and additional signage in our restrooms indicating proper handwashing techniques. For staff, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and gloves are available for all employees and volunteers.

The program fee is non-refundable; however, the program will be rescheduled whenever possible based upon program availability. The Aquarium will reschedule your encounter free of charge if the change is made at least 14 days in advance of the original date of visit. If the change is made less than 14 days prior to the original date of your visit, a $20 change fee per ticket will be charged. No changes can be made less than 48 hours prior to the date of your original visit, and the guest will be charged the full program cost. Cancellations and no-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. To change your reservation, please contact the Georgia Aquarium Call Center at 404.581.4000

Times change day by day based on Dolphin Presentation schedules.  Available times and space will be shown in the booking process.

Every effort will be made in order to allow participation in our Dolphin Encounter. Please call 404-581-4000 to make a reservation and let the reservists know you have special needs and someone from the program will call you prior to your visit to review your options.

Guests will not be able to watch you interact with the dolphins. Any guests that you would like to be a part of this poolside experience will also have to purchase a ticket.

Cancellation and Date Change Policy: The program fee is non-refundable; however, the program will be rescheduled whenever possible based upon program availability. The Aquarium will reschedule your encounter free of charge if the change is made at least 14 days in advance of the original date of visit. If the change is made less than 14 days prior to the original date of your visit, a $20 change fee per reservation will be charged. No changes can be made less than 48 hours prior to the date of your original visit, and the guest will be charged the full program cost. Cancellations and no-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. To change your reservation, please contact the Georgia Aquarium Call Center at 404.581.4000.

Guests must check in at the Animal Interaction desk, located next to the Ocean Voyager Built by The Home Depot gallery, 15 minutes prior to the start of their program. Guests arriving late will not be permitted to participate in the program and will not be refunded or rescheduled. We encourage guests to arrive at the Aquarium with plenty of time to park, enter, and check into the program. Please plan accordingly.

Due to the nature of caring for animals, Georgia Aquarium reserves the right to modify, cancel and/or reschedule programs without notice. Reasonable accommodations will be made to reschedule guests as effectively as possible.

Please go to the Animal Interactions desk, located next to the Ocean Voyager Built by The Home Depot gallery, to check in at least 15 minutes prior to your Dolphin Encounter.

For directions to the Aquarium and information on parking, please refer to the Hours, Directions & Parking section of our website!

Minimum age is 7 years. All guests ages 16 and under must be accompanied during the program by a participating adult. All participants must be ticketed for the encounter. There is a maximum of 3 children per participating adult. Guests under the age of 18 must have the program liability waiver and animal interactive program guidelines signed and dated by their parent or court appointed legal guardian.

You can make a reservation by calling Georgia Aquarium Call Center at 404.581.4000. After you have purchased your reservation, you will receive a confirmation email that will include instructions how to supply additional information and submit the waivers required to participate in the program. All participants must have the program liability waiver and animal interactive program guidelines signed and dated prior to participating in the program. Guests under the age of 18 must have the program liability waiver and animal interactive program guidelines signed and dated by their parent or court appointed legal guardian.

Reservations are not required. However, we strongly encourage reservations to guarantee your experience as spaces are limited. Space is currently limited to only 4 participants per dolphin per program. While up to 8 participants may be able to participate per program time:

Parties larger than 4 participants will be divided between different animals due to the space limitation. Parties of 2 or 3 participants may be divided between different animals due to the space limitation.

$69.95 (plus tax) per person; $63.95 for Annual Pass Members. Price includes a souvenir photo (cell phones and cameras are not allowed in the encounter area). PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE General Admission access to the Aquarium.

A photo I.D., appropriate footwear, attire that can be splashed and your sense of adventure! Guests may not bring personal cameras into dolphin program areas.

The Dolphin Encounter program lasts 15-minutes and includes approximately 8 minutes of interaction with a dolphin. During this fast-paced program you will go backstage at our dolphin theater to meet, touch and feed one of the dolphin stars of our spectacular Dolphin Celebration presentation. See up-close many of the ways we care for our dolphins and participate in a training session during this hands-on poolside encounter.